Iranian President visits Turkey to partake in OIC summit

December 14, The Iran Project – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Tuesday (Dec 12) to take part at the emergency summit of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Turkey as a rotating president of the OIC has called for a meeting of the OIC on Wednesday to confer on a recent decision by US President Donald Trump to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Talking to reporters in Mehrabad Airport before leaving for Turkey, Presided Rouhani said that al-Quds belongs to all Muslims and it will be the capital of Palestine.

While in Turkey, President Rouhani addressed the extraordinary summit of OIC and held talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Addressing the gathering, Iranian President stressed that Tehran is ready to cooperate with each one of the Muslim countries to defend the holy al-Quds “without any reservation or pre-condition.”

“The Muslim states fortunately were quick in reacting to the approach of the US administration towards the al-Quds City and the formation of this Summit indicates the correct interpretation by Muslims of the incorrect act of the US president,” President Rouhani said.

At the end of the meeting, the OIC released a statement, declaring that it would recognize “East Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of the State of Palestine and invite all countries to recognize the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital.”

The declaration was a direct response to US President Donald Trump days after he referred to the city as the “eternal capital” of Israel.

In a meeting with Erdogan, President Rouhani said the US recent move to recognize the Holy al-Quds as the capital of the Zionist regime (Israel) harmed sentiments of the Muslims and the world freedom seekers, adding that the Washington’s move was against the will of the Muslim community.

President Erdoghan, for his part, hailed active participation of heads of states in Istanbul meeting, saying that their extensive presence indicates common views over the issue of Palestine.

President Erdoghan pointed to Tehran-Ankara cooperation in fighting against terrorism, saying that the two capitals should uproot terrorism by mutual cooperation.

On Dec 14, President Rouhani wrapped up his visit to Istanbul and backed home.